New HIV cases rising globally, says ILO

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has raised the alarm that new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were rising in some regions of the world.

In his message to mark the 2016 World AIDS Day, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said since most people spend most part of their life in workplaces, the workplace could play a critical role in fighting AIDS.

He said there was an estimated 37 million people living with HIV globally, with majority of them within working age.

Ryder added that over 35 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

He said the recent UNAIDS report shows that the lifecycle approach to HIV raises optimism as well as concerns, adding that while 18.2 million people now have access to HIV treatment, there was no reduction in the number of new HIV infections among adults in the past five years.